Waterproof mail bag

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for a mail carrier&#39;s standard bag which protects the mail from becoming wet in inclement weather and reduces wear on the standard bag. A waterproof mail carrier&#39;s bag which protects the mail.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/683,499 filed May 23, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protective cover for a standardmailman bag. More particularly, the present invention relates to aprotective cover which protects the mail from rain and inclement weatherand extends the use life of the standard bag. A method of protecting themail is disclosed.

2. Description of Related Art

At the present time, mail carriers have a standard bag supplied by theU.S. Postal Service. The bag is formed from fabric which is waterrepellent which has a plastic inner surface. The bag is not waterproofand after a relatively short time, the inner surface becomes worn andabraded from the corners of the envelopes, the magazines and the smallboxes which are normally hand carried by the mail carrier. The wornsurfaces are more likely to be penetrated by rain. The very design ofthe standard bag permits the entry of rain and snow into the opening ofthe bag as the bag is carried on the delivery route. The mail carrierusually folds the top panel of the bag into the opening for ease ofaccess to the mail within the bag. The top panel is usually not liftedand replaced over the bag opening every time the carrier goes toadjacent houses because this procedure becomes time consuming and delayscompletion of delivery. In inclement weather, the procedure is notchanged and rain and snow enter directly into the bag. It is notuncommon for water to accumulate on the bottom inside the standard bag.The mail often becomes damaged from the water.

In some locations, the mail carrier has a truck in which the mail to bedelivered is deposited at the beginning of the work day. The mailcarrier drives to his assigned delivery route. The mail carrier takesthe standard bag to the rear of the parked truck to transfer a portionof the mail which can be carried in the bag. Because of mail security,all mail must be taken from the locked rear of the truck. In inclementweather, transfer of the mail from the truck to the standard bag usuallyresults in at least a portion of the mail becoming wet because there isno means to protect the bag from the rain or snow.

This problem has existed as long as the mail has been delivered. Theapplicant is unaware of any device or method which can protect the mailfrom the inclement weather.

The applicant is aware of the following patents and publishedapplications. Inventor(s) U.S. Pat. No. Berry et al 1,744,719 Freed2,429,019 Allen 2,436,369 Veilleux 3,314,464 Kuvik 3,662,803 Stanley4,953,697 Riceman 5,172,795 Howorka 5,293,975 Millar 5,690,155 Bang etal 5,947,604 Trevino 6,279,796 Author(s) Publication No. Metzig et al US2004/0206431

Berry et al, Freed, Stanley and Trevino all disclose a cover with adrawstring closure. Allen and Bang et al disclose covers with adifferent closure feature for protecting the contents of the cover. Theprotector of Kuvik covers only the top of the bag and affords noprotection to the sides or bottom. The devices of Howorka, Riceman,Metzig et al and Veilleux enclose the entire bag but have no foldover ordouble flaps. The rain cover for a golf bag by Millar encloses theentire bag and has foldover flaps. The Millar device does not have aninner folding panel. None of these references are directed to aprotective cover for a bag for carrying mail and, furthermore, none ofthese references are structurally similar to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a waterproof cover for a mail carrier'sbag which prevents rain and snow from entering the bag and damaging themail. The present invention also extends the use life of the standardletter carrier's bag.

It is a first object of the invention to protect the mail from theeffects of inclement weather. It is a further object of the invention toassist the letter carrier in delivery of the mail. It is a still furtherobject of the present invention to reduce wear on the standard lettercarrier's bag thereby extending the life of the standard lettercarrier's bag and to effect cost savings for the U.S. Postal Service.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention. There isdisclosed a protective cover for a standard bag used by a mailman. Thebag has a front panel and a back panel connected by two sides and abottom panel thereby forming an opening in the protective cover. Theback panel has a lengthened upper portion which may be folded over theopening. The front panel has a lengthened upper portion which may befolded into the opening and is covered by the upper portion of the backpanel. The upper portion of the back panel has a second panel connectedthereto forming a pocket in the upper portion of the back panel. Thestandard mailman bag, having a bag portion and an extended back portion,is received in the protective cover. The bag portion of the standardmailman bag is received in the opening in the protective cover and theextended back portion of the standard bag is received in the pocket onthe upper back portion of the protective cover. The lengthened upperportion of the front panel is disposed inside the bag portion of thestandard bag wherein said lengthened portion protects the contents ofthe standard bag from rain and inclement weather. The protective coverfurther protects the standard mailman bag from wear and extends the uselife of the standard mail bag.

In further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, thereis disclosed a method of protecting mail in a standard mailman bag. Aprotective cover for the standard bag is provided. The standard bag isreceived within the protective cover. The protective cover is formedfrom a waterproof material. The protective cover has a flap formed as anextension of a front panel thereof. The flat is inserted into thestandard bag such that the flap prevents rain and snow from entering thestandard bag, thereby protecting the mail in the standard bag.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction withthe enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mail carrier carrying the standardmail bag in inclement weather.

FIGS. 2A-2D are a sequence of cross-sectional views showing the standardmail bag which is uncovered during a rainfall and the accumulation ofwater inside the mail bag.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the inner surface of the bag of FIG. 1showing wear on the bag.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the protective cover of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the standard mail bag received inthe protective cover.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the standard mail bag openedwith the protective cover protecting the contents of the bag from rain.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the letter carrier in the rain carryingthe standard bag in the protective cover.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mail bag formed from a waterproofmaterial.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the mail in the standard carrier bag 10 isminimally protected from rain and snow and is liable to damage fromwater, rain and snow. The standard bag 10 has a front panel, a backpanel, two side panels and a bottom panel. An opening is formed intowhich the mail is placed for delivery by the letter carrier. The insideof the standard carrier bag has pockets formed therein for separation ofcertified mail, registered mail and other items from the bulk of themail. The back panel is extended in length and is generally folded overthe opening in the bag.

The protective cover 12 of the present invention (FIG. 4) has a frontpanel 14, a back panel 16, two sides 18, 20 and a bottom panel 22forming a bag with an opening 24. As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6 and 7, thestandard bag 10 is disposed in the opening 24 in the protective cover12. The back panel 16 has a lengthened upper portion 26 which hassufficient length so that it may be folded over the opening 24 in thebag to partially cover the front panel 14. The upper portion 26 of theback panel has a second panel 30 attached to the inner surface thereof.Thus, a pocket is formed on the inner surface of the upper portion 26 ofthe back panel. When the standard bag is received within the protectivecover 12, the extended back panel of the standard bag is received andretained within said pocket. The front panel 14 of the protective coverhas a lengthened upper portion 28 which extends over the opening 24 inthe bag and may be folded into the opening in the standard bag 10 topartially cover the contents of the bag and especially the certifiedmail and registered mail. Thus, rain and snow are prevented fromentering the inner portion of the standard bag because the upper portionof the front panel is disposed over the opening in the standard bag. Theupper portion 26 of the back panel covers the upper portion 28 of thefront panel when the upper portion of the back panel is disposed tocover the opening 24 of the bag. However, most of the time the upperportion 26 of the back panel is folded into the opening 24 of the bag toallow the mail carrier to remove the mail from the bag more rapidly andwithout having to lift the upper portion of the rear panel as the mailcarrier goes from house to house.

It is preferred that the protective cover 12 be formed from a waterproofmaterial. Relatively heavy gauge plastic such as 20 weight vinyl hasbeen used satisfactorily. It is further preferred that the protectivecover 12 be formed from a transparent material to enable the mailcarrier to better see the mail. The seams where the panel adjoin may beformed by sewing, electronically welding, ultrasonically sealing or byother means known to persons skilled in the art.

The back panel 22 of the protective cover 12 may have a plurality ofopenings 32 formed therein to receive a corresponding plurality of rings34 formed on the standard bag 10. The rings are disposed through theopenings 32 such that a carrying strap 36 may be connected to theplurality of rings and the standard bag with the protective cover 12 maybe worn by a letter carrier. Alternately, means such as rings, hooks,loops or other connectors known to persons skilled in the art may beattached to or formed on the protective cover 12 to which a carryingstrap maybe connected for carrying the standard bag with the protectivecover.

The protective cover 12 further reduces wear on the standard bag 10 byphysically absorbing forces external to the standard bag. Also, sincewater inside the standard bag is a major source of damage and wear, theprotective cover 12 significantly reduces this wear factor.

As a result of using the protective cover 12, the life of the standardbag is increased, replacement costs are reduced, the volume of damagedmail is significantly reduced, significant savings are realized by theU.S. Postal Service and the public image of the U.S. Postal Service isimproved.

The present invention solves a longstanding problem which has not beensatisfactorily addressed by persons skilled in the art.

Alternately (FIG. 8), the mail bag 38 may be formed from a waterproofmaterial such as a heavy gauge vinyl plastic. The mail bag 38 has afront panel 14, a back panel 16, a bottom 22, a first side 18 and anopposite second side 20. The sides 18, 20 connect the bottom 22 with thefront panel 14 and the back panel 16 to form a body with an opening 24opposite from the bottom. The rear panel extends upwardly from the bodyand has a length 26 to cover the opening in the body and to partiallycover the front panel. The front panel extends upwardly 28 from the bodyand is disposed within the opening 24 in the body to protect thecontents of the bag from rain and inclement weather. Means such as aplurality of rings 34 are attached to the body. The rings may be on thesides or on the back panel. The body may be reinforced to more securelysupport the rings. The means are not limited to rings but may be hookand loop fasteners, snaps, clips or other connectors known to personsskilled in the art. The connectors are attached to cooperating meansformed on a carrying strap 36 so the bag 38 may be carried by the lettercarrier.

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from thebasic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has beenspecifically described herein.

1. A protective cover for a standard bag used by a mailman, comprising afront panel and a back panel connected by two sides and a bottom panelthereby forming an opening in the protective cover, the back panelhaving a lengthened upper portion which may be folded over the opening,the front panel having a lengthened upper portion which may be foldedinto the opening, the upper portion of the back panel having a secondpanel connected thereto forming a pocket on the upper portion of theback panel, wherein the standard mailman bag, having a bag portion andan extended back portion, is received in the protective cover, the bagportion of the standard mailman bag being received in the opening in theprotective cover and the extended back portion of the standard bag beingreceived in the pocket on the upper back portion of the protectivecover, the lengthened upper portion of the front panel being disposedinside the bag portion of the standard bag wherein said lengthenedportion protects the contents of the standard bag from rain andinclement weather, wherein the protective cover further protects thestandard mailman bag from wear and extends the use life of the standardmailman bag.
 2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the protectivecover is formed from a transparent, waterproof material.
 3. Theprotective cover of claim 1, further comprising means on the protectivecover to attach a carrying strap.
 4. The protective cover of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of openings formed in the back panel toreceive therein a corresponding plurality of rings formed in thestandard bag such that a carrying strap may be connected the pluralityof rings.
 5. A waterproof mail bag used by a mail man, the bag having abody with a front panel, a back panel, a bottom, a first side, and asecond side, the sides connecting the bottom with the first panel andthe back panel thereby forming an opening opposite the bottom, the rearpanel extending upwardly from the body and having a length to cover theopening of the body and to partially cover the front panel, the frontpanel extending upwardly from the body and being disposed within theopening in the body to protect the contents of the bag from rain andinclement weather.
 6. The waterproof mail bag of claim 5, wherein themail bag is formed from a waterproof material.
 7. The waterproof mailbag of claim 6, wherein the waterproof material is vinyl.
 8. Thewaterproof mail bag of claim 5, wherein a plurality of rings areattached to the body of the mail bag such that a carrying strap may beconnected to the plurality of rings to assist the mailman in carryingthe mail bag.
 9. A method of protecting mail in a standard mailman bagcomprising the steps of: providing a protective cover for the standardbag, the standard bag being received within the protective cover, theprotective cover being formed from a waterproof material, the protectivecover having a flap formed as an extension of a front panel thereof,inserting the flap into the standard bag such that the flap preventsrain and snow from entering the standard bag, thereby protecting themail in the standard bag.